It takes a careful blend of science, craft and compassion to make a prosthetic eye

The exposed surface of the human eye is extraordinarily complex and frequently the crux of social interactions, which makes crafting a prosthesis an intricate and delicate task. Few people know this better than David Carpenter, an ocularist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and part of a team responsible for making some 1,400 artificial eyes a year. In this short documentary from the UK filmmaker Barry J Gibb, Carpenter takes us through his process step by step, from measurements to the final polish. The resulting video is not for the squeamish: a fascinating mix of craftsmanship, artistry and human biology.